LOGAN TOWNSHIP, NJ – The Utica University men's and women's cross country teams traveled to DREAM Park on Saturday afternoon to compete in the Rowan Interregional Border Battle, highlighted by an individual victory from
Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) and a pair of top-10 team finishes. The men's squad placed seventh out of 19 scoring teams, while the women finished 10th out of 20 scoring teams.
The men's team totaled 194 points in the 8k championship race, led by Melita, who captured the individual title with a time of 26:39.1. Melita crossed the finish line 12.6 seconds ahead of runner-up Jake Kapper of Mount Union, averaging a 5:21.7 mile pace throughout the race. Melita established himself near the front of the field early, passing through the three-mile mark in 16:04.1 before pulling away to secure the victory.
Killian Bauer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherill) joined Melita inside the top 10, placing eighth overall with a time of 27:16.6. The sophomore averaged 5:29.2 per mile, giving Utica two of the top eight finishers in the championship field.
Timothy Jeralds (Canaan, NY/Chatham Central) followed with a 31st-place finish, completing the course in 28:11.5 to round out the Pioneers' top three.
Liam Maxson (Ilion, NY/Central Valley Academy) was the next Pioneer across the line, finishing 84th with a time of 29:36.9.
Forest Martin (Poland, NY/Poland Central) completed Utica's scoring five, placing 107th in 30:12.6, while
Evan Humphrey (Utica, NY/Whitesboro) rounded out the team's entries with a 134th-place finish in 31:51.3. The Pioneers' top five combined for a total time of 2:21:56, averaging 28:23 per runner.
On the women's side, Utica recorded 313 points in the 6k championship race, led by
Marlo Townsend's (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) 14th-place finish. Townsend completed the course in 23:21.1, averaging 6:15.8 per mile to pace the orange and blue in a competitive field.
Catherine Manna (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) followed in 44th place with a time of 24:19.1, giving Utica two runners inside the top 50.
Nicole Arnhold (Hampton, NY/Granville) was the third Pioneer to finish, crossing the line in 25:05.6 to take 68th overall.
Lacey Simmons (Vernon Center, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) followed in 94th place, recording a time of 25:47.8, while
Tara Fobare (Sauquoit, NY/New Hartford) rounded out the scoring five with a 140th-place finish in 28:09.9.
Emma Charboneau (Fultonville, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) also competed for the Pioneers, placing 156th with a time of 29:16.0.
Courtney Pettit (Walworth, NY/Wayne) completed Utica's seven-runner lineup, finishing 165th in 31:12.2. The women's top five combined for a time of 2:06:43, averaging 25:20 per runner.
The Pioneers return to action on Saturday, October 24 for the Hamilton Short Course Tune-Up with the women's race set to begin at 11am, followed by the men's race beginning at 11:45am.
